Healthy toddler eating ("Lots of junk" spinoff)

After reading the "Lots of junk/little healthy" thread, I'm really curious how you would all define healthy eating. It feels like everyone except me is serving up only farm-grown, organicly produced quinoa with raw veggies and tofu.

What does healthy eating mean to you? For example, describe a typical meal for a child in your home.

For me, I always incorporate a fruit and/or a veggie, but sometimes that mean adding peas to Cars-shaped Mac & Cheese. We only have whole wheat bread and whole grain pasta in our house (aside from the Cars Mac & Cheese), but I use processed cheese on sandwiches and I have no problem baking up some Dino Nuggets from Costco with sweet potato tator tots and broccoli for dinner. My son will usually eat the pulled pork/grilled chicken/grilled salmon we make for dinner, but Dino Nuggets and tiny Oreos definitley have their place. We even have frozen waffles for breakfast sometimes, with a side of blueberries and yogurt. Healthy, or terrible?

After reading the "Lots of junk/little healthy" thread, I'm really curious how you would all define healthy eating. It feels like everyone except me is serving up only farm-grown, organicly produced quinoa with raw veggies and tofu.

What does healthy eating mean to you? For example, describe a typical meal for a child in your home.

For me, I always incorporate a fruit and/or a veggie, but sometimes that mean adding peas to Cars-shaped Mac & Cheese. We only have whole wheat bread and whole grain pasta in our house (aside from the Cars Mac & Cheese), but I use processed cheese on sandwiches and I have no problem baking up some Dino Nuggets from Costco with sweet potato tator tots and broccoli for dinner. My son will usually eat the pulled pork/grilled chicken/grilled salmon we make for dinner, but Dino Nuggets and tiny Oreos definitley have their place. We even have frozen waffles for breakfast sometimes, with a side of blueberries and yogurt. Healthy, or terrible?

My husband and I eat whole grain. My husband is in to body building so we eat a lot of protein-rich foods. Only grilled or baked chicken or fish. Fresh steamed veggies. We never load our food with butter. We only drink water or water with crystal lite. We have one cheat day where we will indulge in ice cream or cookies, but we still always limit ourselves. I eat lots of fresh and dried fruits. We spend a lot of time in the grocery store because we read labels. We buy organic if the items are on sale or cheap. I only buy cage-free, free range chicken and eggs. I also buy the 2% Omega-3 DHA Horizons Organic milk. Hmm.. That about sums it up. We are expecting our first so I'm sure we will add some little treats here and there for our son, as well as more food options.

My husband and I eat whole grain. My husband is in to body building so we eat a lot of protein-rich foods. Only grilled or baked chicken or fish. Fresh steamed veggies. We never load our food with butter. We only drink water or water with crystal lite. We have one cheat day where we will indulge in ice cream or cookies, but we still always limit ourselves. I eat lots of fresh and dried fruits. We spend a lot of time in the grocery store because we read labels. We buy organic if the items are on sale or cheap. I only buy cage-free, free range chicken and eggs. I also buy the 2% Omega-3 DHA Horizons Organic milk. Hmm.. That about sums it up. We are expecting our first so I'm sure we will add some little treats here and there for our son, as well as more food options.

we can't afford all organic, even though I'd love to feed my kids that. I make my own waffles, as well as Mac and cheese and chicken nuggets. We buy real cheese slices, like Cheddar and Swiss, not processed cheese products like Kraft singles (yuk!). I make a lot of pasta salads with fresh veggies. The kids eat lots of apples, bananas, and carrot sticks as their fruit or veggie serving. Only whole wheat breads and pastas, except for the veggie pasta in the pasta salads. The only cereal we eat is plain Cheerios or Cream of Wheat. We do eat cookies and chocolate on occasion.

we can't afford all organic, even though I'd love to feed my kids that. I make my own waffles, as well as Mac and cheese and chicken nuggets. We buy real cheese slices, like Cheddar and Swiss, not processed cheese products like Kraft singles (yuk!). I make a lot of pasta salads with fresh veggies. The kids eat lots of apples, bananas, and carrot sticks as their fruit or veggie serving. Only whole wheat breads and pastas, except for the veggie pasta in the pasta salads. The only cereal we eat is plain Cheerios or Cream of Wheat. We do eat cookies and chocolate on occasion.

I cook a meat, one Veggie side, usually one starch like potatoes, rice or rolls. For desert she has a fruit. During the day she eats oatmeal or yogurt for breakfast, usually a veggie for lunch and she snacks on grapes, carrots or celery.

I cook a meat, one Veggie side, usually one starch like potatoes, rice or rolls. For desert she has a fruit. During the day she eats oatmeal or yogurt for breakfast, usually a veggie for lunch and she snacks on grapes, carrots or celery.

I am kind of one of the organic quinoa and veggie feeding moms you speak of, but we don't feed our son tofu...it's so processed;-) I have no problem with my son having a treat here and there, but IMO he's too little for refined sugar (he is a year old). For breakfast today he had (all organic) scrambled eggs and strawberries. For lunch, yogurt, blueberries, orange, cheddar cheese slices, avacado, and a peanut butter and apricot sandwich. For supper he will have brocoli, peas and carrots with a kamut pasta and homemade tomato sauce (beef, carrot, zucchini, brocoli etc). His favourite snacks are yogurt, applesauce, guacamole and crackers, kamut and corn puffs etc. I try to keep his diet balanced and healthy, but I'm also lucky he likes almost everything. This is how I feed a one year old. As he becomes exposed to other children's foods, we will let him enjoy some treats. Everyone deserves 'junk' once in a while:-)

I am kind of one of the organic quinoa and veggie feeding moms you speak of, but we don't feed our son tofu...it's so processed;-) I have no problem with my son having a treat here and there, but IMO he's too little for refined sugar (he is a year old). For breakfast today he had (all organic) scrambled eggs and strawberries. For lunch, yogurt, blueberries, orange, cheddar cheese slices, avacado, and a peanut butter and apricot sandwich. For supper he will have brocoli, peas and carrots with a kamut pasta and homemade tomato sauce (beef, carrot, zucchini, brocoli etc). His favourite snacks are yogurt, applesauce, guacamole and crackers, kamut and corn puffs etc. I try to keep his diet balanced and healthy, but I'm also lucky he likes almost everything. This is how I feed a one year old. As he becomes exposed to other children's foods, we will let him enjoy some treats. Everyone deserves 'junk' once in a while:-)

We are more like you, more "average" I guess. I do make my own breads, never buy bread. I also make yogurt, graham crackers and a few other "snack" type foods. But, I do have one of the pickiest toddlers ever, so a lot of his dinners consist of chicken nuggets when I get desperate and just need him to eat SOMETHING. He will only eat a couple different veggies and 2 types of fruit. He loves yogurt and cashews. But, he also adores goldfish crackers, veggie chips, nilla wafers and other junk foods. He is sometimes good about eating his whole grain pasta.

Also, baking is kind of my hobby so I do make a lot of baked goods. I mostly make them to share, not just for the 3 of us to inhale, but still we do eat a lot of it.

I buy organic sometimes, but cost is usually what stops me. I eat a lot of beans and rice, healthy and cheap. I don't understand why most healthy food has to be so pricey and junk food is so cheap!

We are more like you, more "average" I guess. I do make my own breads, never buy bread. I also make yogurt, graham crackers and a few other "snack" type foods. But, I do have one of the pickiest toddlers ever, so a lot of his dinners consist of chicken nuggets when I get desperate and just need him to eat SOMETHING. He will only eat a couple different veggies and 2 types of fruit. He loves yogurt and cashews. But, he also adores goldfish crackers, veggie chips, nilla wafers and other junk foods. He is sometimes good about eating his whole grain pasta.

Also, baking is kind of my hobby so I do make a lot of baked goods. I mostly make them to share, not just for the 3 of us to inhale, but still we do eat a lot of it.

I buy organic sometimes, but cost is usually what stops me. I eat a lot of beans and rice, healthy and cheap. I don't understand why most healthy food has to be so pricey and junk food is so cheap!

I buy meat and chicken from whole foods. And do most veggies and fruit organic. Whole wheat bread and pasta(sometimes). I will buy organic milk and string cheese and do dried fruits and raisins for snacks. My daughter will eat mostly what we eat which we grill a lot and have a veggie as a side. I'll usually make her batches of soup (like lentils) with lots of veggies or rice with veggies for her sitter to feed her. Occasionally we have pizza and she loves it. When we go out for sushi she lives edamame and avocado rolls. I never buy frozen chicken nuggets but I will buys whole grain waffles from trader joes.

I buy meat and chicken from whole foods. And do most veggies and fruit organic. Whole wheat bread and pasta(sometimes). I will buy organic milk and string cheese and do dried fruits and raisins for snacks. My daughter will eat mostly what we eat which we grill a lot and have a veggie as a side. I'll usually make her batches of soup (like lentils) with lots of veggies or rice with veggies for her sitter to feed her. Occasionally we have pizza and she loves it. When we go out for sushi she lives edamame and avocado rolls. I never buy frozen chicken nuggets but I will buys whole grain waffles from trader joes.

Healthy in my house means fresh fruits and veggies, whole grains, and very little processed foods. I do let the kids eat Goldfish etc, but they get the whole grain version rather than the rainbow colored ones. We eat real cheese, drink plain white milk or water. I try to find healthy versions of fun kid foods. For example, DS loves Gogurt, but I buy the Yokids Organic squeezable yogurt instead. DH loves Fruit Punch. So instead of Hawaiian Punch, I buy 100% juice and only give it to DS as an occasional treat. We eat dessert, but again it's usually homemade treats so that I know what's in it. I would love to say that we eat all an organic vegan diet, because that's probably what's healthiest. I just try to do the best I can and teach the kids to eat real, fresh foods rather than processed "food".

Healthy in my house means fresh fruits and veggies, whole grains, and very little processed foods. I do let the kids eat Goldfish etc, but they get the whole grain version rather than the rainbow colored ones. We eat real cheese, drink plain white milk or water. I try to find healthy versions of fun kid foods. For example, DS loves Gogurt, but I buy the Yokids Organic squeezable yogurt instead. DH loves Fruit Punch. So instead of Hawaiian Punch, I buy 100% juice and only give it to DS as an occasional treat. We eat dessert, but again it's usually homemade treats so that I know what's in it. I would love to say that we eat all an organic vegan diet, because that's probably what's healthiest. I just try to do the best I can and teach the kids to eat real, fresh foods rather than processed "food".

Yes, they are AMAZING. I will never eat store-bought again. They aren't the healthiest snack I'm sure, as they do contain butter and brown sugar. But they also have whole wheat flour, wheat germ and honey....so they aren't terrible.

Yes, they are AMAZING. I will never eat store-bought again. They aren't the healthiest snack I'm sure, as they do contain butter and brown sugar. But they also have whole wheat flour, wheat germ and honey....so they aren't terrible.

Whole foods very few things out of a box, organically and locally grown whenever possible. Very low amounts of white sugar, white flour etc. We avoid artificial flavoring, colors etc whenever possible. With occasionally splurges like mcdonalds when on a long car trip, regular sugar-filled cupcakes for a birthday (made at home from scratch due to allergies and a cake decorating hobby lol) etc. I think that having occasional junk food isn't going to hurt my kids as long as their standard diet is healthy. But seeking out local and organic foods, foods with minimal processing and artificial ingredients is something that I have made a priority, it something we budget for knowing that doing so increases our grocery budget by quite a bit.

Typical breakfast (every Wednesday): from scratch organic whole wheat and local honey sweetened waffles, organic eggs from our CSA share with organic cheddar cheese from trader joes and some of the fruit from our CSA box that week or organic bananas from trader joes. Fast breakfast: cup of homemade granola (honey sweetened again, no nuts, sometimes dried fruit if I have tracked down a safe one for our family allergies) and cup of organic plain yogurt with no sugar fruit preserves or honey for flavor.

What does it mean for me?

Whole foods very few things out of a box, organically and locally grown whenever possible. Very low amounts of white sugar, white flour etc. We avoid artificial flavoring, colors etc whenever possible. With occasionally splurges like mcdonalds when on a long car trip, regular sugar-filled cupcakes for a birthday (made at home from scratch due to allergies and a cake decorating hobby lol) etc. I think that having occasional junk food isn't going to hurt my kids as long as their standard diet is healthy. But seeking out local and organic foods, foods with minimal processing and artificial ingredients is something that I have made a priority, it something we budget for knowing that doing so increases our grocery budget by quite a bit.

Typical breakfast (every Wednesday): from scratch organic whole wheat and local honey sweetened waffles, organic eggs from our CSA share with organic cheddar cheese from trader joes and some of the fruit from our CSA box that week or organic bananas from trader joes. Fast breakfast: cup of homemade granola (honey sweetened again, no nuts, sometimes dried fruit if I have tracked down a safe one for our family allergies) and cup of organic plain yogurt with no sugar fruit preserves or honey for flavor.

I want to try making some multi grain crackers soon. I'm really into making my own foods from scratch when possible and have been experimenting a lot lately. I just wish my picky son would try more of them:(

Yes, absolutely delicious:)

I want to try making some multi grain crackers soon. I'm really into making my own foods from scratch when possible and have been experimenting a lot lately. I just wish my picky son would try more of them:(

We actually eat pretty healthy around here which is helping me shed the baby weight. I try to only buy things that are not processed and expire. If I have the processed foods it's the first thing I go for, so I keep it out of the house. We do splurge on real ice cream and real chocolate and real homemade cookies sometimes. But my kid loves raw veggies so that helps. Guess I'm that a$$hole that serves quinoa too!

We actually eat pretty healthy around here which is helping me shed the baby weight. I try to only buy things that are not processed and expire. If I have the processed foods it's the first thing I go for, so I keep it out of the house. We do splurge on real ice cream and real chocolate and real homemade cookies sometimes. But my kid loves raw veggies so that helps. Guess I'm that a$$hole that serves quinoa too!

I could have written your post word for word! I have a picky toddler, and no matter how much I offer, he's going through a "not eating" phase. He will only eat veggies in soup- when he used to eat peas like candy. So, we have a lot of soup around here. I do the best I can- and I stay away from sugar as much as possible. Right now? He's living off of a bite here and there and a daily children's multivitamins. And milk. Ha!

I could have written your post word for word! I have a picky toddler, and no matter how much I offer, he's going through a "not eating" phase. He will only eat veggies in soup- when he used to eat peas like candy. So, we have a lot of soup around here. I do the best I can- and I stay away from sugar as much as possible. Right now? He's living off of a bite here and there and a daily children's multivitamins. And milk. Ha!

That's a pretty typical day. She doesn't get a lot of junk. She's had cakes, pies, cookies, ice cream, etc but that's usually only once a week. She loves fruits and veggies and she's not picky. Yes I realize I got lucky.

That's a pretty typical day. She doesn't get a lot of junk. She's had cakes, pies, cookies, ice cream, etc but that's usually only once a week. She loves fruits and veggies and she's not picky. Yes I realize I got lucky.

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